Pneumatic cushion, mattress, and the like



Aug. 30, 1927.

R. W. SAMPSON PNEUMATIC CUSHION, MATTRSS, AND THE LIK vOriinal FiledApril 25. 1925 figa? J1 '0 IZ I0v 3 3 5 5 9 9 lf3-L 13 l ai? INVENTOR,@www m,

.24v/100mm A TT ORNE Y.

, elastic support.

Another object chor the cushion supporting bas And still another objectof my is to base by Patented Aug. 30, 1927..

ROBERT W. SAMPSON, OF N '.PORATION, OF.NEW

I Application illed April 23, 1925, Serial No. 25,181.

My invention ions, mattresses,

ed to be used body in sitting or reclining, cushions of the class whichequipment for biles, sleeping EW YORK, N.

YORK, 1v. Y., A conronATIoN or DELAWARE.'

Y., ASSIGNOR TO SAMPSON MARTIN COR- .PNE'UMATIC CUSHION, MATTRESS, ANDTEE LIKE.

relates to pneumatic cushand similar articles, adaptas supports for thehuman particularly to are intended as conveyances such as automocars andthe like, wherein there is considerable jar or-movement of thevstructure carrying the cushion,

and it is important to have the response and reaction of the elasticityof justed so as to the cushion properly admake it a comfortable supportto the user2 protecting him from excessive shock and Jar, while,

the iiuctuation the cushion does not so and contour as to render its atthe same time, of the compressed air within change its shape support ofthe user undependable or uncertain.

The principal obj ect 'of my invention is to give to the seat orcarrying portion of such a cushion iiexibility and elasticity,

to the elasticityy of the fact that the only Aalso to cushion lies indue not the conned air, but seat portion of the whole or in part free ofthe which the cushion is carried, the

seat lbeing carried by a surrounding framelike portion of the cushion,so

. that the weight ofthe user may causethe seat portion of the cushionstead of being tacting base.

to give as a whole 1nsustained by a directly con- Another object of myinvention isto reinforce or strengthen the material of which the centralor seat portion of the cushion is made so as to strengt make it moredurable tortion or damage, while,

it is supported inflated, portions o creasing the stability ortion andand lesslikely to disat the Sametime, hter and moreflexible, thecushion, thus inof the' seat portion hen that' by li while maintainingthe advantages .of its provide may in making up,

sembly, a complete seat cushion or the like.v

-In the dlawmgs Fig. 1 is a` acushion, such illustrating an bedetachable, and as with the pneumatic Aelement in a convenient way to ae.

invention suitable covering, such as part and serving in the form of aunitaryas- Elan view of as an automo quite across the casing of myinvention is to anand the basev `imperforate, two valves vided', aslshown in Fig. 2, so that the upper p the casing may be p ile cushion,-embodiment of my invention Renewed December 30, 1926.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same, taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1, looking to the right; and Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sectionalviews illustratingv modifications.

In all the figures similar parts are designated by similar referencenumerals.

A substantially rigid base 1 is employed to sustain the pneumatic casing2, which, in

this case, 1s intended general size and proportion of an automobilecushion, the material of the upper and under sides being drawn togetherat intermediate points and merged into connecting, stabilizingdiaphragms 3, 3, 3, on either side of which are cup-like recesses oropenings 4', 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, extending out to the opposed surfaces of thecushion.

Preferably, the lower portions of the casing 2, below the diaphragms,are made thinner and more flexible than the upper portions, which aremade thicker in order to stifle-n the upper face of the cushion and.

to give the -eii'ect of a somewhat stii'ened carrying surface supportedby a more yieldable and flexible under portion.

In the ferm shown in Fig. 2 I refer, also, to make the central portionof t e underside of the cushion below the diaphragms 3', 3 thicker thanthe lower` portions ofthe casing, for the purpose of still further re,-inforcing` the central section ofthe 'seat and giving to thatcomparatively-thin .portion an increased stiffness as a whole, so thatthis central portion will, in practice, have -suiiicient stiffness toprevent,

1n ordinary use, its being collapsed or bent down too far for convenientuse within the enlarged marginal elements of the cushion.

A web or vdiaphragm for instance as a continuation of the bottomof thecentral, seat portion, as shown in Fig.' 2.

This web serves to strengthen the cushion'` against lateral -orlongitudinal deformation when in use; asiit resists the bulging out ofAthe sides and ends of the cushion. It may be provided with opentherethrough, to allow the the confined. air through free circulation-ofit; or,if itis left and lower sections o independently inflated. For thepurpose of securely attaching to be molded to the,

8, 8, may be pro- 6 mayEx extended the casing to the base, securingdevices such as cords 9, 9 are fastened, as by anchors 10,10 abovediaphragms 3, to the` base. This lashing of the cushion to the basetends to prevent the ,upsetting or turning in of the outer edge of thecushion under weight applied to its central portion.

If desired, a sheet-of felt, or the like, l1` may be placed over theto-p and sides of the 10 'casing 2; and an outer covering l2 may beplaced over the casing and secured to .the base l, preferablydetachably, as by snap fasteners 13. Y' c. The central spacebeneath thecasing in the form shown in Fig. 2, may, if desired, be filled withelastic `fibre or similar material 14, which will act as a partialsuppprt for the casing in case of its accidental In F ig. 3 I have showna modification wherein the centrall portions vof the cushion 'arecarried down to the base l, but the recesses 5, 5, are considerablyenlarged, so as to diminish the'area of support for this portion of thecushionA and thereby increase its ssoftness, although it will have moredirect support than the form shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 4 I have shown still another modiiication wherein recesses areplaced in the marginal portionof the-casing 2 shown in Fig. 3, andsecuring devices are employed as shown in Fig. 2. -1

I desire it to be understood that the forms of embodiment of myinvention shown in the drawings are to be considered as typical and notexclusive illustrations. Fordetails of construction may be modified asby the use of equivalents without departin from the spirit of myinvention as claime Having thus described my invention, what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. Apneumatic cushion, embodying a hollow, inflatable marginal supportingrim, and and a hollow, inflatable seat portionhaving deflation.

its bottom supported bythe rim above the 4.5 plane of thebottom ofsaid'rim.

2. A neumatic cushion, embodying a hollow, in atable marginal supportingrim, and a hollow, inflatable internally bridged, seat portion havingits bottom supported by the rim above the bottom of said rim.

' 3. A neumatic cushion, embodying a hollow, in atable marginalsupporting rim, and a hollow, inflatable internally stiened, seatportion having its bottom supported by the rim above the bottom of saidrim.

4:. A pneumatic cushion, embodying a-hollow, inflatable marginalsupporting rim, and a hollow, inflatable seat portion having itsopposite sides united at medial points and having its bottom supportedby the rim above the plane of the bottom of said rim.

5. The combination with a pneumatic cushion, embodying a hollow,inflatable marginal supporting rim, and a hollow, inflatable 65 seatportion, having its bottom supported by the rim above the plane of thebottom of said rim, of -a base, and resilient material inter- ,posedbetween said seat portion and said base. y

6. The combination with a pneumatic cushion, embodying a hollow,inlatable marginal supporting rim, and a hollow, inflatable seatportion, having its bottom supported by the rim above the plane of thebottom of said rim, of a base, and means for anchoring' the marginalelement against. inward collapse.

7. The combination' with a pneumatic cushion, embodying a hollow,inflatable marginal supporting rim,'and a hollow, inilatable seatportion, having its bottom support-- ed by the rim above the plane ofthe bottom of said rim, of a base, and a covering for the pneumaticcushion having a readily detachable attachment to the base.

ROBERT WV. SAMPSON.

